In this era of hyper partisanship, an opportunity for two-party, commonsense legislation is always welcome. The recent passage of the bipartisan affordable housing act, for example, was a welcome respite from the usual Congressional acrimony and a huge win for both Congress and the American people.
Now, another bipartisan opportunity is on the horizon, one that could deliver a substantial win by paving the way to boost U.S. jobs, manufacturing and competitiveness. It could also help secure our nation’s status as a leader in advanced manufacturing and recycling technologies.
Earlier this year, Congressman Nick Langworthy (R-NY) introduced the bipartisan Recycled Materials Attribution Act (RMAA). The bill is timely: It stands to significantly benefit both the economy and the environment by encouraging the use of more recycled content in products, just as demand for products made with recycled materials is growing domestically and around the world.
And the economic opportunity is sizable. New and existing technologies could dramatically increase recycling in America – if we unleash private investment and build the infrastructure to expand them. An analysis shows that if just 50% of plastics currently being landfilled were redirected to recycling facilities, the U.S. could create over 173,000 new jobs and nearly $50 billion in additional economic output. That’s like adding a new economic sector the size of the U.S. milk industry.
The Trump Administration recognizes the need to unleash private investments in recycling. In a recent op ed, Administrator Lee Zeldin noted the barriers posed by the current regulatory climate and the need for regulatory clarity on advanced recycling, also known as chemical recycling:
“The good news is that the appetite for investment is already here...The bad news is that they are being held back by regulatory uncertainty.”
Enter the RMAA. This bill would establish uniform, predictable national standards for recycled content marketing claims and would require the FTC to update its “green guides” to conform with the law by providing businesses with guidance on how to market their products to avoid consumer confusion.
By providing marketing clarity, the RMAA would create the regulatory certainty private investors need and act as a jumping-off point for expanding our nation’s recycling infrastructure.
Why is this critical? Because other large economies, like the European Union and Japan, are beginning to mandate more recycled content in products sold within their borders, and Americans on both the left and the right want more things recycled. We should reap the benefits of manufacturing those products here at home.
My organization is part of a broad coalition, the Recycling Leadership Council, which includes major consumer brands, manufacturers, recyclers, and others. All of us are urging passage of this bill as an essential step toward creating clear, consistent national standards for recycled content marketing claims and unleashing private investment that will lead to new American jobs, economic growth, and a cleaner environment. The global demand for recycled materials is growing fast. If we don't step up, other countries will seize the opportunity.
This week, the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade will hold a hearing to consider this bill among others. We urge Congress to grasp this opportunity and carry it to the finish line – President Trump’s desk.
Congress should always look for opportunities to work across the aisle, pass measures that boost manufacturing, and create more American jobs. The Recycled Materials Attribution Act is one of those commonsense, bipartisan opportunities.
Ross Eisenberg is president of America’s Plastic Makers, part of the American Chemistry Council. He is recognized as one of Washingtonian's 500 Most Influential People in Washington, DC.
